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About us

Action Pathways is a private, non-profit human services agency offering a comprehensive and supportive approach to helping families and individuals achieve and sustain economic security—effectively providing them a path forward in life. Formerly known as the Cumberland Community Action Program, Inc. (CCAP), Action Pathways has developed and operated successful community-based programs in southeastern North Carolina for 50 years. Action Pathways is part of a national network of community action programs whose promise is to change people’s lives, embody the spirit of hope, improve communities, and make America a better place to live. We care about the entire community and are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.

MISSION

As an anti-poverty organization, we advocate for individuals and communities, through developing pathways into economic stability and by providing alerts and challenges to actions and policies that foster disadvantaged, poor, at-risk communities and individuals.

VISION

We see a stronger, healthier, and more viable community in the future. By investing in the individuals and families we serve, Action Pathways can create a meaningful and sustainable difference in our community. We invest in families through projects and programs in four distinct areas: Hunger, Housing, Education and Empowerment.

ACCREDITATION AND MONITORING

Transparency and accountability are among Action Pathways’ highest priorities to ensure that we continue to be good stewards of our funders and our community. Monitoring and auditing by external organizations and government agencies has become part of our culture; but we take it a step farther and consistently engage in self-monitoring and evaluation across all programs. That’s why we know we are the best at what we do, and it shows. Through accreditation recognition, Action Pathways demonstrates proficiency in management practices as well as exceptional proficiency in standards specific to an industry. Action Pathways ensures it has a vital link to state and federal organizations both public and private that can have an effect on the issues that affect our clients and program participants.

Agency Accreditations

Council on Accreditation

National Association for the Education of the Young Child

Agency Certifications:

US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Head Start (OHS), Region IV

HISTORY OF ACTION PATHWAYS

Shortly before President Kennedy’s assassination, he had begun to engage economic advisors to address the problem of American poverty. Continuing this work, Johnson called for an unconditional war to defeat poverty during his initial State of the Union Address during 1964. Thus began the War on Poverty movement to improve the lives of all Americans, regardless of their economic circumstances. President Johnson promised to encourage equal opportunity for all by enacting several comprehensive changes within the federal government. The Economic Opportunity Act was signed into law the fall of that year, thereby establishing the Community Action Network across the nation. The Economic Opportunity Act included the following initiatives:

Head Start

Job Corps

Work-Study program for university students

VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America)

Neighborhood Youth Corps

Basic education and adult job training

CAPs (Community Action Programs)

According to the Community Action Partnership, the service areas of Community Action Agencies (CAAs) cover some 96 percent of counties in all US states. Connected by a national network that includes the Community Action Partnership national association, regional associations, state associations, a national lobbying organization, and a national association of Community Service Block Grant administrators, CAAs are each independently operated private human service non-profit organizations.

Currently, more than 34 million residents in the United States rely on CAAs as the primary direct support agency to keep them “on their feet.” The Community Action Partnership asserts that “the majority of CAA program participants are extremely poor, with incomes below 75 percent of the federal poverty threshold, or $9,735 for a family of three (the average family size for the client population).” For more information on CAAs and their history, please visit www.communityactionpartnership.com.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS/CEOS

CORPORATE OFFICE

Action Pathways is operationally designed to allow programs to focus 100% of their efforts on service delivery. Staff in each of our program areas are knowledgeable and competent in their fields, and we want to ensure they continue to support as many families and individuals as possible in their path forward. At the Corporate Office, we are focused on the business of running a successful mission-focused business.

OUR CEO

A message from the CEO:

For 50 years Action Pathways has been dedicated to making this community a better place to live. I am filled with pride when I think about all that the organization has achieved and accomplishes every day. The staff of some 325 strong work tirelessly to inspire individuals and families to continue on their journey in life, regardless of the path they have chosen.

We believe in the human spirit and the power of the community. We believe in hope. We believe in service to our neighbors. We believe in the promise of community action, and the tangible change that we create daily in lives all around us. Most importantly, we believe it takes action to create lasting change. And this is what we are bringing to the table.

I encourage and invite you to join us in our efforts to weave the fabric of a strong, viable and sustainable community. If you would like to join our pathway, I invite you to volunteer, donate, or become an advocate on our behalf. If you need a new path forward in life, I encourage you to see what we can offer from debt management programs to early childhood education—we can provide you with assistance and resources that are right at your fingertips.

We welcome the opportunity to serve you and serve with you now and in the future.